SI

Beekeeper Plays Hero in Dodgers-Diamondbacks After Lengthy Bee Delay

Chase Field needed a hero. This local beekeeper delivered.

Tom Dierberger

A local beekeeper was called out to Chase Field to handle a colony of bees that had formed behind home plate.
A local beekeeper was called out to Chase Field to handle a colony of bees that had formed behind home plate. / MLB / X
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Chase Field needed a hero Tuesday night.

An NL West clash between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers was put on hold just before 7 p.m. PT due to a bee colony forming on the protective netting behind home plate.

After a lengthy delay, Diamondbacks team officials called a local professional beekeeper to properly take care of the colony. Once the beekeeper arrived, they were elevated on a lift to meet the colony, which was located at the very top of the back screen.

The beekeeper used what appeared to be a vacuum to safely transport the bees to their next location—likely far away from Chase Field.

Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero" song blared at the ballpark as the beekeeper worked.

Mission successful. The bees were handled with care, and the game between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers began at 8:35 p.m. PT after nearly a two-hour delay.

You really never know what you're going to see at the ballpark every night.

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Tom Dierberger
TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.

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